Sylvain Charles Valée founds the port of Skikda, Algeria

Background. Skikda, formerly known as Philippeville, is a port city in northeastern Algeria. It was established in 1838 by French governor Sylvain Charles Valée, who named it after the reigning French king. The town developed as a strategic port for Constantine, Algeria's third-largest city, during the French annexation process. Valée, an artillery officer who served various French regimes, was appointed to command in the region.

Founding of Philippeville. Valée founded the settlement in 1838 under the name Philippeville, honoring the French monarch. The site was developed as a port for Constantine while the French were annexing Algeria. Valée was subsequently made governor-general, and in 1839 he organised the Iron Gates expedition, which restarted the war between France and Abd-el-Kader. The town's establishment formed part of the broader consolidation of French control in the region.

Administrative Context. Valée was reinstated to active service in 1837 as an artillery general and sent to Algeria. He initially commanded the artillery in the province of Bône before becoming governor-general. His tenure included organizing military expeditions, such as the Iron Gates campaign in 1839. The founding of Philippeville occurred during this period of active military administration and territorial expansion.